Post it notes with passwords everywhere?

That used to be me until I installed a password manager. The one I use and recommend is a program called Lastpass.

I'm telling you about Lastpass for 2 reasons:

1. You can generate and store secure passwords on your computer and across your devices.
2. You can designate someone as an "emergency access" person so they can access your accounts if you're not able to.​

The free version is great and it can be used on all of your devices.

The best thing about using a password manager is that you don't have to remember all of your passwords. You only need to remember your master password. LastPass will remember the rest for you.

You can have unique and secure passwords that look like this: ​YI6G7Jkjiv2l automatically generated and saved for you.

If you've already got a password manager or use LastPass, make sure you add an emergency contact.​

Here's how to install LastPass

1. Click this link: https://www.lastpass.com.

2. Click on the big red "Get LastPass Free" button.

​3. Follow the instructions to create an account.

4. Make sure you add an emergency contact by following the instructions here:​ https://helpdesk.lastpass.com/emergency-access/.

Some tips on how to use LastPass

Did you know?

Less than 50% of American Adults don't have a Will according to a study by LexisNexis.

This is scary because they would rather leave things up to strangers in courts rather than spend a few hours making the necessary preparations.

Mistake #1: I don't need an estate plan, I have no assets

Regardless of what you own, you still have yourself and your family to consider.

Think about these questions:

• What would happen if you were to suddenly die or become incapacitated?

• Who would make decisions for you?

• What would happen to your children if you and your spouse died at the same time?

​Mistake #2: I don't need to worry about it because I'm still young

This is a mistake because you still need to consider your health and what would happen to your family if something unexpected were to happen to you.

What happens to your family if you're not there?

Do you have a plan in place?

Mistake #3: I just need a Will

You might be thinking that If you have a will, your family won’t have to go through probate (the legal process for when someone dies, for example: proving a will is valid, paying debts and so forth).

Even if you have a Will, your family will still need to submit it to be approved by a probate court judge.

A Will serves as a list of instructions of how you want your property to be distributed.

You can also use it to name a guardian for your children.

It is an important part of a complete estate plan, but shouldn’t be the only document you have.

For example, you will may also need a Power of Attorney (a document that allows someone else to make financial and other decisions for you), Living Trust, and Advanced Healthcare Directive (a document that specifies what types of treatment you do or don't want if you can't make your own decisions) .

Mistake #4: I have Power of Attorney for my parents. I can use it to administer their estate after they pass

Unfortunately, a Power of Attorney is only good during a person's lifetime. Once they are gone, you won't be able to do anything with a Power of Attorney.

Mistake #5: A Living Trust will protect my assets from creditors and avoid estate taxes.

Be careful about making sure you get the right legal documents for your needs.

Your assets won't be protected from creditors simply from being included in a Living Trust because you still have full control over the assets.

Also, a basic Living Trust will not save you from estate taxes. The main purpose of a Living Trust is to avoid the probate process.

Mistake #6: It's going to cost me a lot of money to set up an estate plan

This might be true if your situation is complicated. For most people can get it done for less than $1,000 by an attorney.

You can even create one yourself if you like.

​Mistake #7: Once my estate plan is completed, I don't need to do anything else

Your life is constantly changing​ and your estate plan needs to reflect that.

Some important events to consider for reviewing your estate plan are:

• Divorce
• Re-marriage
• Children
• Grand Children
• Disability or other major life change

At the very least, look over your documents every few years and make changes if necessary.

If you have any other questions, please comment below or send me an email.​

Estate planning is a term you may have heard or have been told that you need to do.

But what exactly is estate planning?

Why should you look into it?

Simply put, estate planning is a way to plan for your death and what happens afterwards.It includes organizing and updating your financial, digital, and other accounts.

With the right estate plan, like a living trust, you can avoid probate and save your family time and money after your death.

Estate planning also includes preparing for the worst - becoming incapacitated and unable to make financial and medical decisions for yourself.

A typical estate plan will include a power of attorney to allow other people to act on your behalf and an advanced health care directive or living will that details your decisions about your medical care.

A complete estate plan will allow your home, business, investments, and other benefits to be seamlessly transferred and administered if you become ill or pass away. You'll also decide what you want to do as far as your burial arrangements.

Everyone could benefit from a simple will, power of attorney, and advanced health care directive.

But, those who really need an estate plan are parents with minor children and the elderly.

The legal documents involved in an estate plan include wills, power of attorney forms, living wills, living trusts, and other types of trusts.

You can get these done yourself through a document preparer (online and offline) or through an attorney. The main difference between the two is that only an attorney can give you legal advice about your situation.

The most important thing is to at least have a simple will, power of attorney, and advanced health care directive.